Impact diverting helmet system

ABSTRACT

The Impact Diverting Helmet System is a redesign of the conventional football helmet that is in use today. It is a protective head covering device that is designed to absorb and divert the majority of force that results from a collision starting at the point of impact. This design offers the wearer elevens levels of protection and it can be easily manufactured with lightweight materials so it can be similar in weight to conventional helmets in use today.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the classification of helmets. Morespecifically it is in the sub-classification of headgear. Several sportsinvolve violent head collisions and these sports require the use ofprotective head covering devices. The objective of the device is toprotect each participant from injury that can occur from any collisionsto the head during such activity.

There have been numerous redesigns of the helmet but none have been ableto make a significant reduction in head injury. Generally these helmetsinclude a hard outer shell that is fastened to a person's head with achin strap with the option of having a facemask.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a protective head covering device that is notlimited to football, but it can be applied to any sport or activity thatcan involve violent collisions to the head. The present invention isengineered to divert and absorb the energy that results from collisionsand reduce the resulting force of the collisions at the point of impactinstead of after the fact. The design of the present inventionincorporates eleven levels of protection that work simultaneously whilefunctioning independently of each other to protect the wearer's headfrom serious injury.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the embodiment of a front view of a complete assembly ofthe invention.

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of a side view of a complete assembly of theinvention.

FIG. 3 shows the embodiment of a bottom view of a complete assembly ofthe invention.

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of a front view.

FIG. 5 shows the embodiment of a perspective view of a speciallydesigned impact diverter.

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of a side view of a specially designedimpact diverter.

FIG. 7 shows the embodiment of an array of impact diverters inside thecrumple zone around the invention.

FIG. 8 shows the embodiment of a perspective view of a speciallymanufactured elliptical compression spring clip.

FIG. 9 shows the embodiment of a side view of an elliptical compressionspring clip.

FIG. 10 shows the embodiment of a perspective view of the layout ofelliptical compression spring clips as they would appear inside thecrumple zone at the rear of the invention.

FIG. 11 shows the embodiment of a perspective view of the layout ofelliptical compression spring clips as they would appear inside thecrumple zone at the front of the invention.

FIG. 12 shows the embodiment of a perspective view of a rivet that isused to fasten the elliptical compression spring clips to the largerhard polymer outer shell to the smaller polymer inner shell.

FIG. 13 shows the embodiment of a perspective view of the inner shell ofthe invention.

FIG. 14 shows the embodiment of a side view of the inner shell of theinvention.

FIG. 15 shows the embodiment of a perspective view of a speciallydesigned pillow pad.

FIG. 16 shows the embodiment of a side view of a pillow pad.

FIG. 17 shows the embodiment of a perspective view of an array of pillowpads as they would appear inside of the inner core of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION AND MODE OF IMPLEMENTATION

The present invention FIG. 1 represents a method and an apparatus tohelp protect the wearer's from any force that results from single orrepetitive collisions to the head.

The first level of protection is a hard polymer shell that can be formedby using injection molding to manufacture the helmet's outer shell. Theouter shell is used as the base for the helmet.

The outer shell is molded wider to the left and right sides 20 close to22 the ear holes. The wider design adds more distance between thewearer's head and any side impact collisions. The wider helmet designadds a second level of protection.

The outer shell is molded with added space towards the back of thehelmet, 23 extending it rearward and downward to add more distancebetween the wearer's head and the ground to protect the wearer from anycollision that can occur from falling backwards. The extended shape ofthe helmet adds a third level of protection that can help to protect thewearer from any possible head to ground collisions.

A specialty design impact diverter FIG. 6 is molded out of sheet metaland having a spring like embodiment with one fixed end 24 that isattached to the inner core of the outer shell by inserting 24 into apredrilled hole and then glued in place.

The two free moving ends 26 of the impact diverter moves freelyoutwardly or horizontally across the outer surface of the inner corewhen any vertical force acts upon the fixed end 24 of the impactdiverter

A fourth level of protection is added when a series of strategicallyplaced impact diverters FIG. 7 are attached to the inner core of theouter shell by inserting 24 into a predrilled hole and then glued inplace.

This array is used to help support the larger hard polymer outer shell27. The unattached free ends of the impact diverters 26 moves freelyacross the outer surface of smaller inner shell 36 when any externalforce collides with the helmet. This movement helps to change the directforce from the impact to a more glancing blow.

A specially manufactured elliptical compression spring clip FIG. 8 ismolded out of sheet metal and having a spring like embodiment with fourpredrilled holes 30, that are used to join the inside of the larger hardpolymer outer shell 27 to the outside perimeter of the smaller hardpolymer inner shell 31.

One side 29 of the elliptical compression spring clip is fastened to theinside perimeter of the hard polymer outer shell 27 with two rivets FIG.12. The elliptical compression spring clip compresses downward when anyvertical force is exerted on it, and moves laterally when a shearingforce is exerted on it.

A fifth level of protection is created by adding a smaller hard polymerinner shell FIG. 13 whose embodiment can be manufactured using injectionmolding methods.

The perimeter of smaller hard polymer inner shell is attached to thelarger polymer outer shell by fastening it with rivets FIG. 12 throughthe opposite rivet holes 32 in the elliptical compression spring clip.

By fastening the larger hard polymer outer and smaller hard polymerinner shells together, the gap between the larger and smaller hardpolymer shells creates a crumple zone 33. The added distance between thewearer's head and the point of impact creates a sixth level ofprotection.

The crumple zone 33 houses the array impact diverters FIG. 7 therebyadding a seventh level of protection.

A specially manufactured soft pillow pad FIG. 15 is made having theembodiment of a soft rubbery exterior and semi-filled non-rechargeableair sac. The air sac is partially filled to keep the pillow pad soft andthe air is not released nor is it expelled from the pillow pad onimpact.

One-side of the pillow pads 36 is glued inside the inner core of thehelmet. When any external force acts upon the helmet. The pillow padreacts like a balloon and expands laterally from the compression toabsorb the energy form the impact. After the force of the impactdissipates the pillow padding returns to its original shape.

An array of pillow pads surrounds and cushions the wearer's head FIG. 17thereby adding an eight level of protection.

A layer of soft shock absorbing foam 34 is permanently affixed over thehard polymer outer shell of the helmet for added cushioning and shockabsorbing at the point of impact. This adds a ninth level of protectionto the helmet.

A tenth level of protection is added by permanently affixing a softshock absorbing rubbery padding 35 over the foam layer 34 to add moreshock absorption padding to reduce the transfer of any force thatresults from collisions at the point of impact.

After assembled, an eleventh layer of protection is created as the outerperimeter of the helmet moves on impact to divert the energy thatresults from a collision. This movement creates a more glancing blowinstead of a direct blow to the head.

1. The outer core of the helmet is designed to move on impact.
 2. Whenthe outer core of the helmet moves on impact, it will cause the energyfrom the collision to become more of a glancing blow instead of a moredirect blow.